Here's a sampling of what Vivian has done over the years.
Vivian K. Birchall, Government of Uganda’s Delegate at the African Union’s APRM Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Vivian’s Citizen-Focused approach to government was developed during her early professional life in Uganda.
In 2006 she joined the National Planning Authority (NPA) of Uganda. This is the Ugandan department tasked with producing comprehensive and integrated development plans for the country. Vivian worked mainly with two agencies also associated with the African Union; The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
In the photo: South Africa’s Former First Lady, Graca Machel Mandela smiling at Vivian Kobusingye Birchall, at the African Union’s APRM Summit in Sirte, Libya. Also in photo is Kenya’s former Ambassador Kiplagat (RIP) and Uganda’s APRM Governing Council member, Solome Kimbugwe Nakaweesi
Vivian Kobusingye Birchall, receiving Uganda’s President - H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Also in photo aare various diplomats from Uganda and Ethiopia
In pursuit of the goals of creating greater economic opportunity for Ugandans, building a more robust social safety system, and establishing Uganda’s place in Africa as an ethical governance leader; Vivian developed and honed extensive Financial, Supervisory, and Program and Project management skills.
In her role as GOVERNANCE OFFICER, Department management looked to Vivian to:
Participate in strategic planning meetings creating National Development Plans
Develop Program Budgets
Develop and supervise implementation programs
Manage and assess national and regional task forces
Vivian was also responsible for representing the work of the Ugandan Government to the APRM. Her work took her across the African continent:
Preparing periodic progress reports for development partners, steering committees, management, and stakeholders
Briefing high-level officials on the implementation status of various programs
Assessing and reporting on program budgets and progress
Planning and Coordinating high-level meetings, discussion forums, and round tables
Arranging protocol for hosted international meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Vivian Kobusingye Birchall, with fellow National Planning Authority Board and staff
Vivian talking to residents at the Governance Table
Vivian went into her work in the NPA with a strong network and high-level administrative skills developed during her time in the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC).
As COORDINATOR, Vivian ran a program recruiting legislators to the cause of greater transparency in government within Uganda and collaborated with programs doing the same work; operating on an international basis. This program educated legislators on the use of tools that allowed them to focus on addressing government corruption and explained the importance of Transparency and Access to Information. Members of APNAC understood that a society transitioning from a single-party system; to a multi-party democratic system, needs education and open channels of communication. Vivian’s work directly addressed those needs.
Vivian Kobusingye Birchall, far right, exhibiting as part of the outreach for the African Union’s NEPAD and PARM programs in Uganda. In the picture is my colleague, George, and Minister of State for Planning, Hon. Fred Omach
Vivian chatting with the former Minister of State for Finance, and looking on in the black jacket is the former United Nations Development Program’s Resident Representative
Vivian Kobusingye Birchall, coordinator for the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption- Uganda Chapter, kicking off an informational workshop with legislators in Uganda’s Parliament, about the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption. The event was co-hosted with Transparency International- Uganda